Several potential jurors have been disqualified from serving in Donald Trump’s unprecedented criminal trial in New York due to concerns about impartiality.
Mr. Trump stands accused of falsifying business records to conceal a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election, which he won. He denies the allegations.
Out of 96 potential jurors, 60 were swiftly excused after admitting they couldn’t be impartial when proceedings commenced on Monday. Jury selection is ongoing and may extend for up to two weeks.
The difficulty in finding impartial jurors for such a high-profile case was evident on the first day. It revolves around a prominent sex scandal involving a former president who is also a current presidential candidate.
“I just couldn’t do it,” remarked one prospective juror upon leaving the court.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office alleges that Trump instructed his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay Ms. Daniels $130,000 in hush money to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter, which Trump denies. Prosecutors argue this payment was intended to unlawfully influence the 2016 election.
Jury selection began with the dismissal of jurors who couldn’t be impartial, leaving around 34 individuals. The remaining were questioned on various topics, including their media consumption habits and any associations with Trump.
Ultimately, 18 individuals were selected and answered a detailed questionnaire. Despite objections from Trump’s legal team, a woman who admitted bias against Trump was dismissed.
All jurors will remain anonymous due to the case’s sensitivity. Meanwhile, Trump remained quiet in court, occasionally conversing with his lawyers.
Outside the courtroom, Trump labeled the trial as “nonsense” and an “assault on America.” His social media activity became a point of contention, with prosecutors alleging violations of a gag order. The judge scheduled a hearing to address these issues.
During the morning session, the judge ruled on admissible evidence, notably excluding audio of Trump’s controversial remarks from the Access Hollywood tape but permitting references to its contents.